Fond memories of working at Ship Ahoy

Ship Ahoy was a popular seafood restaurant in downtown Corpus Christi from 1942 to 1992. A second location, Ship Ahoy on the Bay, opened in 1965 and was located at Alameda and Ocean Drive.
Allison Ehrlich/Caller-Times

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Ship Ahoy on the Bay, seen in this 1966 photo, was located at 6102 Ocean Drive. The original location was at 1017 N. Water Street in downtown Corpus Christi.(Photo: Caller-Times file)Buy Photo

I worked there beginning in 1966 as a busboy cleaning tables and assisting the waiters as needed. The Ship Ahoy on the Bay had all-male waiters at the time. Before the crowds came we would clean that place top to bottom, Mr. Hill made sure of that. We polished all the brass in the place daily using Brasso, a creamy white liquid that left the brass so shiny you could comb your hair on it.

In addition to the two-level dining room there was an oyster bar to the left as you came into the restaurant. I worked the oyster bar in 1966 and 1967 where I shucked oysters that were served on the half shell.

I remember one evening when a party of four came in nicely dressed, the men in tuxedos and the women in formal gowns. They of course ordered the oysters on the half shell and as I was taking one of the trays layered with ice and the oysters on top of the ice I tripped and dropped the tray on one of the men. There was complete silence and I was so scared, all I could think of was Mr. Hill firing me.

Instead the man stood up brushed himself off and said "Son, it's OK, this is a rental tux and we just stopped here to eat on the way home." I apologized profusely, Mr. Hill was told about it and he came and apologized and they received a free meal. The man told Mr. Hill it was an accident and that it could have happened to anyone.

When they left I guess they could still see the fear in my eyes, he gave me a tip and both he and his wife gave me a hug and left. When the night was over I went to Mr. Hill's office to apologize to him and all he said was "Just be careful next time.”